Bayer AG CEO Werner Baumann says he’s confident they’ll win European Approval of their deal to acquire Monsanto. A Bloomberg report says he’s trying to win the approval of its $66 billion acquisition while contemplating the sale of more businesses. He says, without the Monsanto acquisition, Bayer sales and profits will grind to a halt this year. Company shares dropped …
USDA Projecting Strong Red Meat, Poultry Exports
In spite of a strong U.S. dollar, the USDA is projecting red meat and poultry exports= to rise steadily over the next decade. The trade website, Meating Place Dot Com, says steady global economic growth, especially in developing economies, will drive foreign demand from the U.S. market. After dropping in the early part of this decade, beef exports should begin …
Ag Committee Members Press USDA on Payments to Deceased Farmers
Senate Ag Committee members Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan raised concerns with the USDA’s Farm Service Agency about farm program payments to deceased farmers. The Senators sent a letter to the agency, saying that they need to be careful stewards of taxpayer money and work to avoid wasteful payments. The letter says, “As we prepare to …
U.S. Ag Pays the Price for Trade Disputes
The Farmers for Free Trade Group released a report this week that highlights how American farmers and ranchers have paid the price in trade disputes. Consequences usually happen in the form of retaliatory tariffs. The report comes out as the Trump Administration makes a final decision on placing tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. That would be on top of …
Treasury Secretary Mentions U.S. Possibly Re-joining TPP
It’s been over a year since President Trump pulled the U.S. out of the multinational Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says the U.S. is willing to discuss possibly rejoining the trade pact. He spoke recently at an investment summit meeting sponsored by the U.S. Chamber. According to Mnuchin, renegotiating the agreement is “absolutely on the table” and he’s …
Hatch: Congress Will Act on NAFTA Withdrawal
Utah Republican Senator Orrin Hatch weighed in this week on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiations. The Senate Finance Committee Chair says Congress will intervene if President Trump follows through on his threat to withdraw the U.S. from the agreement. He says, “We’d probably work hard to pass NAFTA, hopefully by a veto-proof vote, because it’s very important, …
Theme of Agricultural Safety Awareness Program Week-‘No One Can Take Your Place’
The Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (SCCAHS) has teamed up with the American Farm Bureau and the U.S. Agricultural Safety and Health Centers to raise awareness of agricultural health and safety by promoting Agricultural Safety Awareness Week March 4-10 with the theme “No One Can Take Your Place.” A different safety focus will be highlighted by the …
Alabama Grazing Pilot Signup Deadline is Thursday
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Alabama wants to remind eligible livestock producers in the in the Black Belt region that the signup deadline for a Grazing Pilot is March 1. The pilot program will target socially disadvantaged producers in Lowndes, Dallas, Wilcox, Marengo, Hale and Perry counties. Alabama Grazing Pilot Signup Deadline is Thursday Sponsored ContentWhat Sets Provysol® …
No Drastic SNAP Changes Expected in Senate Farm Bill
Politico says the Senate is not expected to make any drastic changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as it works to reauthorize the farm bill. Those comments came from Senate Ag Chair Pat Roberts during a speech before anti-hunger advocates on Tuesday morning. While speaking to the National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference, Roberts said again that he’ll oppose efforts …
No Deal After White House Biofuels Meeting
A Reuters article says there was no agreement in a meeting between lawmakers and Cabinet members regarding the Renewable Fuels Standard. President Donald Trump had called for a meeting between the two sides who have been feuding over the current state of the renewable fuels law. The decade-old policy was intended to help farmers and reduce the nation’s petroleum imports. …